What Is a Trimpot (Trimmer)?
1 min read
Quick answer
A trimpot (trimmer potentiometer) is a small potentiometer, usually mounted on the board, used for infrequent, fine adjustment. It's set once by a technician, not the user.
Difference From a Potentiometer
| Property | Potentiometer | Trimpot |
|---|---|---|
| Use | Frequent, user | Infrequent, calibration |
| Size | Large, panel | Small, on board |
| Adjustment | Knob/lever | Screwdriver |
How Is It Adjusted?
It's set by turning its screw with a small screwdriver. Some models (multi-turn) rotate for tens of turns for very fine adjustment.
Where Is It Used?
Offset/gain calibration, reference voltage adjustment, sensor threshold setting and post-production fine tuning.
Multi-Turn and Single-Turn
Trimpots are single-turn (fast, coarse adjustment) or multi-turn (usually 25 turns; very fine adjustment). For precise reference or offset adjustment, multi-turn is preferred; single-turn is enough for simple threshold settings.
Common Mistakes
- Using it for frequent adjustment: a trimpot isn't built for frequent use and wears out.
- Over-torque: its plastic screw breaks easily.
- Drifting with vibration: after a critical setting it's fixed if needed (with lacquer).
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a trimpot and a pot?+
A trimpot is on-board, small and for infrequent adjustment (calibration); a pot is for frequent use on a panel.
What is a multi-turn trimpot for?+
It allows a very fine adjustment by giving a small change per turn.
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